Anderson’s decision locks up victory for Grizzlies

Marc McLaughlinGranite Bay 105-pounder Chris Gallegos works on top of Del Oro’s Isaac Blackburn on Wednesday night. Gallegos used a takedown and near-fall to score a 7-1 decision, and the Grizzlies defeated the Golden Eagles 39-18.

Marc McLaughlinIan Mook, left, of Granite Bay led Danny Jacoshenk of Del Oro 2-0 heading into the final period Wednesday night and padded his lead with a late takedown to record a 6-2 decision in the 132-pound match. The Grizzlies won the Sierra Foothill League dual meet 39-18.

Will Anderson didn’t have to win his match Wednesday night. He could have lost by decision, major decision, even technical fall, and Granite Bay High School would have clinched a dual-meet victory over Del Oro and a share of the Sierra Foothill League championship.

All Anderson had to do was avoid being pinned.

He won anyway. Anderson stayed hungry and aggressive and even went for a pin late in his 191-pound match against Jake Uhler. Anderson’s 9-4 victory stamped the host Grizzlies’ 39-18 win over the Golden Eagles.

Only Woodcreek (3-1) can tie Granite Bay (4-0) now, and the Timberwolves will come calling at 7 p.m. Wednesday in an SFL finale.

“We’re in pretty good shape for that, but we gotta take care of our business anyway,” Granite Bay coach Shane Dixon said. “We want to take care of Woodcreek.”

The Grizzlies took a 24-3 lead by winning six of the first seven matches: decisions by Chris Gallegos at 105 pounds, Ian Mook at 132 and Andrew Broadland at 137, a major decision by Phil Vogeley at 142, a technical fall in the second period by Shane Saylor at 114 and a pin in the first period by Daniel Flinders at 127.

The lead shrunk to 24-18 before Anderson and Uhler faced off under a single bright light with a big, vocal crowd watching. Granite Bay had six more points guaranteed because Del Oro didn’t have a heavyweight to throw at Gavin Andrews. Pins at 191 and 217 would have given the Golden Eagles a 30-30 tie.

Anderson didn’t let it happen. Scoreless after one period, he scored a takedown and near-fall late in the second period to take a 5-1 lead. Anderson registered another takedown in the third period and even tried to turn Uhler onto his back. Anderson didn’t record the fall, but he won the decision.

“The match wasn’t over yet,” Anderson said. “I knew we had to win it to win the meet. We wanted to be league champs and to be also 5-0 in league.”

Dixon said the Grizzlies knew Uhler would be a tough foe – Uhler leads or is near the top in several statistical categories for Del Oro – but liked Anderson’s chances.

“Uhler is a tremendous opponent,” Dixon said. “To have Will go and not back down to it was huge.”

Granite Bay celebrated with a “milkshake” served by Kevin Blank in the next match at 217 pounds. The sophomore used a move called a “milkshake” to pin Del Oro’s Tanner Woods at 4 minutes, 13 seconds. Blank had Woods’ arms trapped, rolled to the side and put Woods on his back.

“We saw that coming. As soon as he hooked it up, I knew we were good,” Dixon said. “I’m really glad Kevin did that and just put an exclamation point. It was nice to say, ‘Hey, we didn’t just win because we had the forfeit.’ We got it done.”

Granite Bay won the JV match 33-29.

Woodcreek 37, Roseville 36 – The Timberwolves reeled off five consecutive wins and edged the Tigers (2-2 SFL) when Roseville freshman 121-pounder Brandon Fratto could only record a 6-3 decision over Sean Marigold. Roseville needed a major decision to tie and a technical fall or pin to win.

“Brandon wrestled his best match of the season,” Roseville coach Jeremiah Miller said.

Freshman Jimmy Gomez (105) had a pin for Woodcreek, and Josh Kyser (171) won by major decision.

Roseville had four pins – by Jon Maroon (114), Logan Palmer (154), Clayton Strawn (162) and Ryan Fratto (217). Strawn was pulled up from the JV team. Also, Austin Finerty came from behind to win in overtime at 191.

The Tigers were missing three starters – two because of illness and 137-pounder Dylan Jankovich because of a concussion sustained last weekend at the Tim Brown Memorial Invitational.